Cake In Jar Recipe: Cherry Point Pie

This one is very yummy! I really didn't think it would last the shipping to Afghanistan but went out on a limb and sent it anyways! I'm glad I did, my husband loved it. I would let you all in on what he said but...well, let's just say it's not g-rated. :) ((That's K for ya! haha))

So here we go!

Cherry Point Pie

aka Cherry Pie

Makes: 2-3 Pint Sized Jars

Prep Time: 15-20 Min

Cook Time: 35-40 Min

What You Need:

1. Pint Size Jars 

2. Betty Crocker Pie Crust

3. Cold Water (you can use cold tap water, but for the sake of the photo, I used bottled)

4. Canned Cherry Pie Filling

5. Rolling Pin (not in photo)

6. Pizza Cutter (not in photo)

7. Flour (not in photo)

I will have links at the bottom to the home made, from scratch recipes for the pie crust and cherry filling for all you daring folks! :)

Pie Time!

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

2.  Prep the Jars:

- Screw top off and place both pieces of tops into boiling water (Boil for 5 minutes, take out, dry and set aside)

- Hold empty jars about a foot away and spray a very light coat of Pam Spray into jar. (I always do this over the sink so the "loose" spray will fall into the sink and not on the floor or counter)

Set Jars & Tops aside

3. Mix pie ingredients as instructed. You'll end up with a pretty slab of dough.

Let your little brats join too! :) Here's Ellie with her own piece of dough.

4. Sprinkle flour over clean, flat surface and roll out then trim off each side to make straight (or as straight as possible lol) sides.

5. Cut out pieces and then "piece" them together into the jar as shown in the photos below. 

TIP: Make sure to pinch each together. If you can't fit your hand into the jar, use a wooden spoon :)

It doesn't have to be perfect. If there is an open spot, simply cut a piece and patch together! :)

6. Pour in yummy filling! Make sure to leave space at the top.

NOTE: The filling does boil slightly in the oven.

(This usually takes half the can if using Pint Sized Jars)

7. Cut our circle from dough

TIP: Cheat and use the top! :)

8. Cover filling with dough. Pinch together to seal filling in

9. Cut little strips and add to top of pie.

Feel free to do any design. Maybe a heart, initial or a smiley face. It looks great when your loved one opens it.

10. Place in on cookie sheet and into the oven for 35 min

11. Once done, crust will be a golden brown. Immediately tighten top onto jar and place on oven to seal.

Let cool then decorate! 

My husband's mail takes about 5-6 weeks. After getting this pie we were both nervous but he vowed to be my guinea pig so he had to eat it :) He loved it. You can fill it with any fruit filling.

Good Luck! Please feel free to share your photos with me!

Next up: Kabul Cookies!

Scratch Recipes:
Cherry Filling:
http://www.tammysrecipes.com/cherry_pie_filling


Pie Crust:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/butter-flaky-pie-crust/Detail.aspx
This crust needs to be cooled overnight (preferably) but I love the recipes made with butter rather than shortening. :)

Cake In Jar Recipe: Oorah-ky Road

In the short time my husband has been deployed I have been asked "how do you make those?!" and given out many tips, recipes and instructions on making cakes in jars! I have decided to post a recipe every week till my little brain runs out. hehe I will try to make things as simple, quick and original as possible so when you make them for your loved ones you'll be the talk of the town or as my husband calls me the "COP mom" :)

Today's recipe:

Oorah-ky Road

aka. Mississippi Mud Pie

Makes: 3-4 Pint Sized Jars

Prep: 15-20 Min

Cooking Time: 35-40 Min

What do you need:

1. Pint Size Wide Mouth Jar

2. Non-Stick Spray (I prefer Pam)

3. Cookie Sheet

4. Shish Kabob Sticks (Optional)

5. Either:

           -One 7oz Jar of Marshmellow Creme (I prefer the taste of this, but it's a bit messier) 

OR

           -Bag of Small Marshmellows

6. Betty Crocker Mississippi Mix (I will be doing an all scratch recipe soon)

(Note the missing top to my Pam Spray. You can ask my 2.5 year old where that went :-P lol)

Now let's make some goodies!

1. Pre-heat Oven to 400 degrees. (I do this first, always, because it takes a little bit to pre-heat)

2.  Prep the Jars:

- Screw top off and place both pieces of tops into boiling water (Boil for 5 minutes, take out, dry and set aside)

- Hold empty jars about a foot away and spray a very light coat of Pam Spray into jar. (I always do this over the sink so the "loose" spray will fall into the sink and not on the floor or counter)

Set the jars & tops aside

3. Mix Mississippi Mud Pie and prepare according to box. You will have a bowl of chocolate mix and a small bowl of crumb mix once done.

4. Take one jar, drop a spoon of crumb mix onto the bottom of the jar. Flatten out to make a thin "crust".

5. Pour a small amount of chocolate mix over the crumbs

6. If you bought the bag of marshmellows, just sprinkle some of them over the chocolate mix to make a layer of marshmellows over it.

OR

if you have the marshmellow creme, dump a spoon full onto chocolate mix. It will not flatten to a layer, but that's okay! (Actually makes it look very cool!)

TIP: When pouring any ingredients into the jar, get as little as possible on the sides of the jar. If it does, take a paper towel and wipe clean. 

7. Repeat steps 4,5 & 6 till you reach the middle of the jar. Normally, you'll just repeat them once (unless you are using a larger jar)

Tip: When possible, "end" with the crumbs on top! If marshmellows are on top when cooking, they harden and make eating unpleasant ;) 

My uncooked jar. Yes, I cleaned it off before cooking ;) 

8. Place jars onto a cookie sheet (or tin pie pan as shown in picture) and into the oven they go!

9. Cook for 35 min. Check by poking center of jar with a shish kabob stick all the way to the bottom. If done, it'll come off fairly "clean" (meaning no goopy mix will be on it) 

If it's not done, keep in for 5 more minutes and keep checking till done.

10. Once done, pull jars out and immediately place the tops onto the jars and tighten. 

TIP: I use a bath/hand towel to tighten. Oven mittens do not give you enough grip to tighten as well.

11. Place jars with lids onto the oven and wait. :) You might even hear the *POP* sound while they're sealing.

You'll notice if you use the Marshmellow Creme, it Puffs out to the top, that's perfectly okay and makes it taste nice and fluffy!

Once cooled, you can decorate as you please and you're done! 

Photo of another jar I finished. MCRDelight. Just an example of how you can decorate it. Even tie on a plastic spoon for convenience!

I have sent TONS to my husband and buddies overseas. The shipping takes 5-6 weeks to get to them. I've only had one break (it was one of my first) and all stay nice and fresh! The only complaint I've had was the ones that have added food coloring. So if you're shipping time is long, stay away from food coloring :)

Enjoy!! Keep an eye out for more to come!

Next up: Cherry Point Pie

Kenneth Conde Jr. - My Memorial Day Reflections

You may be asking "Who is Kenneth Conde Jr"? Well, he is a Marine Sgt who was killed in Iraq. But not just that, he was Kris' friend and squad leader. K has several buddies who gave their lives for our country. But Conde is always in the back of my mind. For more reasons than one.

This e-mail to Kenneth Conde Sr. explains it all. (Sent last year)

Here is an article about Sgt Conde:

http://militarytimes.com/valor/marine-sgt-kenneth-conde-jr/268627/

Hello, my name is Sarah, we've never met but you and your son have been brought into my life indirectly. I guess I'll start from the beginning.
I read your book a while back, before I met my boyfriend, a marine. He's a sgt now, leading men in Afghanistan as I type this. He fought in OIF 2004 and I've always known he lost some of his battle brothers. But there is one he still talks about to this day. His sgt, Sgt. Conde. You see, Kristopher doesn't talk much about his first tour, for reasons I'm sure you understand. But he never quit talking about your son, his hero. Up until last week, I never knew your book "Just Another Broken Heart" would reappear in my life. But then I received an email from Kris,in it were names of his brothers that had fallen fighting the same battle he did (he's planning on getting a tattoo once he returns home)...and as I read the list the first line read "Conde, K. 040701".
I recognized the name but didn't know from where at the time. I decided to go online and find out where I knew the name from. Then it hit me, your book is where I recognized it. I read it long ago, and it had touched my heart. Well, I remembered one of the poems you wrote called "the funeral is over". You spoke of how people have moved on saying "the funeral is over, the cameras are gone, now everyone seemed, to have moved on". I guess I'm writing you to let you know that your son has made a tremendous impact on peoples lives. Specifically the life of my best friend, the love and hero of my life, Kristopher. He's told me about Kenneth on numerous occassions, always saying that he strives to be as good of a marine as Sgt. Conde was. Kristopher once wrote about him saying "My hero is Sgt. Conde, he was my squadleader in Iraq. He was the greatest man and Marine I have ever met. He is guarding God's heavenly gates now. He passed on when our vehicle was hit by an I.E.D... which is the same one I was hit by. He died in the hosptial, and I admire him and wish he were still with us today cause he was a great leader of marines...As he always said, 'Ryde or Die'"
I'm not sure what I'm trying to accomplish in writing this to you, but I knew in my heart that I needed to reach out and let you know that the cameras may have died down, but your sons name, life and story has not. Thank you for writing your book and sharing your reflections. I figured the least I could do was share mine as well. God bless you, your family and your son. Thank you again.With all my heart,Sarah Cole 

Memorial Day 2010 I was in Washington and a local high school took the time to place a white picket with the names of those who were KIA in OIF & OEF. It was a beautiful sight. Kris was still deployed and I knew I had to weed through all the names to find Conde's.

Simply amazing. I couldn't capture all the pickets in one photo.

I finally found his name. It was not his grave, it's not where his body lies. But I just knew that I had to leave something. Maybe in a way I did it for Kris, knowing if he could do it himself, he would. 

Every year, on memorial day, Conde is always on my mind. I never met him, never spoke to him. But his heroic story has been in my life for a several years now. I would've never guessed that my, now, husband would be in that same story. What a small world.

So this day everyone celebrates and gives thanks in a different way, for a different reason. But I always make sure to take my moment to think of all the men & women who gave their life for me, you & the rest of our nation. 

Rest in peace Heroes. You are never forgotten.

Mother's Day Gift

My husband calls me asking if I got anything, what time it was and other shifty questions :)

He quickly gets off the phone and calls back.

K: Go open the door please.

I was so confused.

Me: Okay....

There was a big box waiting there for me!

He waits anxiously while I open it as Ellie is cheering and saying "present momma!"

He sent me 5 Diamond Candles

{www.diamondcandles.com}

So here is my photo journey!

They were so nicely packaged!! 

Here they are and I could already smell them!

All Elizabeth wanted was to play. :)

Candle #1: It's called "Dusk" It has a very specific smell, my least favorite of the bunch, but still a good scent.

My candle had a baby! haha Just kidding, I was finally able to pull it out :)

Ring #1: Not real. But cute. I plan on giving it to my mom since I'm not much of a yellow gold fan

Candle #2: Lavender Lemon- Probably my favorite of the group! And I'm not a huge fan of lavender. The blend of the two scents was great!

And I go a-digging!

Ring #2: Yellow gold band. Very simple and honestly, the pictures don't do it justice. The stones and very nice! And sparkle wonderfully. :) 

Ring#3: Very pretty! Large green stone. Not real but sooo cute nonetheless! 

Ring #4: Very simple silver ring. I love this one. I'll be wearing this more than the others for sure :)

Ring #4: So cute! Obviously not real but great! I love it :)

So these are my rings and I must say, I got GREAT rings! The candles themselves smell awesome and I look forward to using them for several weeks to come! 

My husband did a wonderful job at picking my gift and it wasn't my only one. He treats me so well and I'm blessed. We have yet to spend a mother's day holiday together but we have the rest of our lives to spend many! If you're reading this dear, I love you and come home safe! I'll be here waiting patiently. <3

One Care Package at a Time

Mr. & Mrs. Privitar

Yes! We're married. Woah! Soo much has happened since I took the time to sit and write. Where do I start? Well, a lot of my friends know most of what has happened. But here is a recap, game-day style! April 1st K flies into California and we run off to get married that same day. It was beautifully simple and perfect! April 5th we fly together to HAWAII! Woohoo. We had a blast. April 10th I fly home..alone. Yup. It was that time. Kristopher is now serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom with the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. And boy do I miss him. But onward do I push!

What good comes of deployments? Not a whole lot, but one thing that I find happiness in doing is writing him letters and...wait for it...CARE PACKAGES! Yes! So I will be sharing my journey through this deployment. My struggles, triumphs and more. I really hope you're ready. I'm known to post a lot of FB. But I will be sharing much deeper thoughts on here. Why? Because I'm also hoping that K will get the chance to read these while deployed and I want him to be able to see how I'm growing and staying strong for him. 

So here is my first care package. Not  my best, but Sarah's gotta get her groove back! So bare with me :)

We go from this:

To This: Go Me! 

{{Yes, I fit it all in there! Momma got some skill!}}

Now to bed! Phew! I got to talk to my lovely husband (eek still crazy to say! lol) a couple times within the last two days! I'm VERY content with that. I love him & miss him something fierce. 

There is nothing but time & distance between us.  And frankly, we're stronger than both of those combined.

The Unbreakable Bond

Photo Credit: Tawny Campbell Photography (TLC Photography)

{{http://www.tawnycampbell.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TLC-Photography/259866668838?v=wall}}

"As we were walking away, my 7 year old daughter turned back and saw this whole line of flags right off the flight line and she pointed out that the US and German flags were at half mast. I walked over to take a photo of it and noticed that as the other flags fluttered the US flag did not. The thought came to me that 'Sometimes even flags cry.'

All of the flags fluttered in the breeze but the US flag. I stood there for over 45 minutes, and it never once flew in it's glory, until the plane carrying Zach and Nick took off... then and only then did the flag finally fly, as if to bid them a farewell." -Tawny Archibald Campbell 

March 2nd, 2011 a family's life was changed forever. Like many military families, these two families lost someone to a selfish & horrible act. Arid Uka, a radical Muslim who deliberately targets US Servicemembers, shot and killed Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden , 25 & Airman 1st Class Zachary R. Cuddeback in Germany while these two along with other troops were on their way to deploy. (You can read the whole story at http://www.kxlh.com/news/usaf-officials-identify-airmen-killed-in-germany-shooting/)

As a military wife-to-be, I understand that fear of losing your loved one while they are deployed to an unknown country, fighting a war. But it never crosses our minds that maybe, just maybe, we could lose them before our eyes to something like this. My heart goes out to the families and I will continue to pray for them.

So, why did I decide to write about this? Well, you see, I have been a witness to some amazing things and when I look back at these amazing things, most are done by military families. When tragedy and even death come knocking at our doors we are all there to open them and to face what many people can't. Not only that, but we come together for one another, for "complete strangers". 

We decide to throw out all the branch rivalry & ranks and step up to help another military family in need. I can tell you right now why we all do that. Because when we read or hear about these sad stories each and every one of us stops and thinks...that could've been me. Because in all reality, it could have. We've all been in an airport saying our farewells (or as we affectionately call our good-byes, our "see you laters"), we've all had to sleep those sleepless nights just wondering where our loved ones are and if they're safe, we've all thought about losing them. 

I've told many people before, I do not think military families are "better" or should be held on a pedestal. But I will tell you this, I do believe we are the quickest to jump up and help "complete strangers" in need. We will send items to a family whose house burnt down or bid $50 on a $10 item just to help a family who lost a husband, father and loved one. We all do what we can and its simply breathtaking to see.

Outside looking in, people see us as strangers, but when you're standing inside this chaotic & beautiful life we call the military we are never strangers. We are friends who very quickly turn to family. We have a short time to build bonds with others because we never know when our next PCS will be, maybe even someone's EAS is coming up or *knock on wood* death. 

So here I am, writing, and thinking about all the friendships I've made and I can assure you, the bonds I've made with these "strangers" are unbreakable. 

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

-Christopher Reeve

Rest Easy Heroes.

Life's Flavors

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.

Eleanor Roosevelt

My life has been this crazy whirlwind these past several months and especially the last two. It's been balanced between the beauty of blessings and the anguish of hardships. I've cried and I've laughed. Boy, have I laughed. Throughout it all I have learned to embrace what I HAVE and not what I wish I had, or what I wish I could change. 

"Unpredictable" is saying the least of my life. But honestly, I would have it no other way. There are many things in my life I can not control. I learned that very quickly. As much as I love to be the "boss" of everything, I had to learn to step back and let things take it's course. If strength doesn't come from learning a lesson like that, I don't know what it comes from. 

People get so wrapped up in these fire balls of unknown that are thrown at us and let it get them down. When something comes up we have two options, to adapt and overcome or to lay down and complain why nothing is changing. 

I've been made fun of for always saying "adapt and overcome" and have gone toe to toe to explain that in EVERY situation you always have choices. And you can always overcome. Key word-YOU. Only you can pick yourself up and jump hurdles. 

Don't get me wrong, K is wonderful and has an amazing ability to make me laugh at a drop of a dime. But at the end of the day, I have to be the one to pick myself up. Because in all reality, he's not always present (thanks to the military). So if I rely on him to get me through everything then what am I to do when he's gone. I don't know about you, but I hate setting myself up for failure and that's just a big mess waiting to happen. 

K & I have always told each other that we do not NEED each other. But, gosh, do we WANT each other. And that's what I love about us. I don't need him to be strong but I want to be strong for him.  I do not need him to be beautiful but want to beautiful to him. I do not need him to be loved..but I sure do want his love. Our strength is most other couple's weakness. 

So, because of  him, upcoming deployment, my beautifully curious daughter & all the other wonders in my life I've come to learn that it's all one big ride. And damnit, I'm going to enjoy it. No matter what. 

Mark my words, I will continue to be happy despite all the changes in my life. Because in my world, my blessings outweigh the unpredictable by far. 

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.